Written Answers Thursday 23 August 2007

Scottish Executive

Access for People with Disabilities

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when Shotts railway station will be made fully accessible for people with disabilities.

Stewart Stevenson: No date has been set for when Shotts will be made fully accessible for people with disabilities.

  Under the Access for All programme, eight stations have so far been selected to receive funding to improve access for disabled people. These initial eight stations were considered to have a greater priority for investment than Shotts. However, Shotts railway station will be considered for funding, along with the remaining stations requiring access improvements, in the second phase of the programme. This second phase will start in 2009 and finish in 2014 and Transport Scotland will be consulting widely on this programme during 2008.

Air Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1845 by Stewart Stevenson on 20 July 2007, whether its study of the benefits of the Air Route Development Fund will also look at the environmental benefits and disbenefits of the fund.

Stewart Stevenson: The evaluation of the economic benefits arising from the Route Development Fund will take into account the environmental impact of the routes supported by the fund.

Air Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are aware of any analysis that combines, in a regional and national economic development context, an appraisal of airport-related investment and the investment that is required to sustain surface access to each of the three central Scotland airports and whether it considers that such a piece of analysis would help inform decision-making.

Stewart Stevenson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the UK: Scotland , published in July 2002, provided an analysis of the economic impact of airport development in Scotland in the context of establishing a UK-wide policy framework for the development of air travel to 2030. This national consultation, published by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Scottish Executive, was the precursor to The Future of Air Transport , the Air Transport White Paper published by DfT in December 2003. The white paper, updated by a progress report published by DfT with Scottish Executive input in December 2006, sets out a policy framework for the development of air travel in the UK up to 2030 against which airport operators, airlines and governments can plan ahead.

Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what reasons were given when disqualification orders were not issued to those prosecuted under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

Bridges

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1820 by Stewart Stevenson on 17 July 2007, whether ministers requested that the Tay Road Bridge Joint Bridge Board notify employees involved in toll collection prior to the announcement of the abolition of tolling and when employees were informed of ministers’ proposals.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers did not request that the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board notify its employees prior to the announcement to abolish tolls. When employees were formally informed is a matter for the board.

  The proposals to abolish the tolls were well publicised and contained in this Government’s pre-election document A New Approach: Our First Steps.

Care of Elderly People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current guidance is with regard to the continuing care of elderly people; whether it applies uniformly across NHS board areas, and how the application of the guidance is monitored.

Shona Robison: Current guidance on NHS Continuing Healthcare is contained within MEL (1996) 22. It is for individual NHS boards to monitor the application of the MEL and to ensure that their policies and practices are consistent with current guidance.

Concessionary Travel

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans or proposals to extend eligibility for the bus and ferry concessionary travel scheme and whether it has received representations from MSPs or organisations about extending eligibility.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive has no plans at present to extend the eligibility criteria for the Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel Scheme and ferry concessions for older and disabled people. We have, however, given a commitment to review the scheme in its third year of operation. Representations have been received from various bodies about extending eligibility.

Drug Misuse

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates was spent on the purchase of illegal drugs in each year since 1970, broken down by class and type of substance.

Fergus Ewing: Robust estimates of the size of Scottish drugs markets are not currently available. A research project is currently in progress which is aiming to produce an initial estimate of the size/value of illicit drug markets in Scotland, and of the economic and social costs associated with illicit drug use. This research is due to be completed in March 2008.

Education

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator plans to define public benefit when assessing the charitable status of fee-paying schools.

Fergus Ewing: Under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 a body must demonstrate it provides, or intends to provide, public benefit in order to pass the charity test. When determining whether a body provides public benefit the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) must have regard to how the benefit to the public compares to any private benefit or any disbenefit that may result from the activities of the particular body. The OSCR must also have regard to whether there are unduly restrictive conditions on obtaining the benefit the body provides.

  The interpretation of these statutory provisions in the discharge of its regulatory duty is entirely a matter for the OSCR, as an independent regulator. The OSCR has produced guidance on Meeting the Charity Test which includes information on how they will assess public benefit. This is available on their website www.oscr.org.uk.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many energy performance certificates it estimates will be issued annually once the energy performance of buildings directive has been fully implemented for (a) new homes, (b) existing homes sold on the private housing market, (c) rented accommodation and (d) non-domestic accommodation.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  In the early years, the estimated the number of Energy Performance Certificates issued on an annual basis following full implementation of the Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD) is as follows:

  

Category
Estimated Number of EPCs


(a) new homes
25,000


(b) existing homes sold on the private housing market
105,000


(c) rented accommodation
130,000


(d) non-domestic accommodation
20,000


Total 
280,000

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to ensure that there will be sufficient assessors qualified to issue energy performance certificates for all categories of accommodation.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  The SBSA will enter into protocol with a variety of professional organisations within the building, property and energy sectors for the production of Energy Performance Certificates. We are in discussion with different organisations whose members have different skillsets for the disparate nature of the existing building stock. This should ensure that all categories are covered when Energy Performance Certificates are introduced for different buildings.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that delays experienced in England and Wales in introducing energy performance certificates caused by a shortage in the supply of accredited assessors will be avoided in Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  Energy Performance Certificates are being introduced to Scotland in a phased approach. Energy Performance Certificates for construction of buildings were introduced in May of this year. For sale of buildings, such certificates will be brought in with the introduction of the Single Survey in 2008. Energy Performance Certificates will be required for buildings which are to be rented out from January 2009.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider the decision to limit the right to issue energy performance certificates to members of specified chartered institutes.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  The issue of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) has not been limited to chartered institutes. The SBSA would be willing to meet with any body that is capable of acting as a professional organisation to discuss a potential protocol agreement.

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive with which organisations it has had discussions about becoming accredited to issue energy performance certificates.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  SBSA staff have had dialogue with the following organisations regarding the protocol arrangements:

  Building Research Establishment (BRE)

  Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers Scotland (CIBSE - Scotland)

  Energy Action Scotland (EAS)

  Energy Institute (EI)

  Federation of Authorised Energy Rating Organisations (FAERO)

  Heating Ventilation Contractors Association (HVCA)

  National Energy Services (NES)

  Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)

  Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

  Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

Energy Efficiency

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations it intends to meet to discuss accreditation to issue energy performance certificates.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  In addition to continuing the dialogue with many of the organisations listed in the answer to question S3W-2682 on 23 August 2007, the SBSA would be willing to meet with any body that is capable of acting as a professional organisation to discuss a potential protocol agreement.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1808 by Stewart Stevenson on 20 July 2007, what maximum level of subsidy it would be prepared to provide in revenue support of a ferry service linking Campbeltown and Ballycastle.

Stewart Stevenson: This Scottish Government is committed to re-examining the case for reinstating a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle. The Scottish Executive has also proposed that the appraisal consider the possibility of extending the service to Ayrshire. Such a change would increase the number of passengers and strengthen the business case for the services. The developments in Northern Ireland since 2001 may well make the carryings on the route significantly higher than previous estimates. This will all be examined as part of a new appraisal.

  It would therefore be premature to speculate on the likely level of subsidy required or the financial consequences. Further information will be made available as soon as possible.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there were any discussions with Western Ferries regarding proposals for the new linkspan at Dunoon.

Stewart Stevenson: I understand that there were discussions between Argyll and Bute Council and Western Ferries and CalMac regarding the new linkspan at Dunoon. These discussions focussed on ensuring that each operator’s vessels could be accommodated at the new linkspan.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any organisation offered to contribute towards the cost of the linkspan at Dunoon and, if so, why any such offer was not taken up.

Stewart Stevenson: Dunoon Pier is owned by Argyll and Bute Council and the Council was responsible for the improvement works at the pier. The Scottish Executive’s role was as a co-funder of the project. The council, the Scottish Executive and HITRANS contributed to the cost of the linkspan. I understand that no other organisation was asked to contribute towards the cost of the linkspan.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns have been previously highlighted by officials regarding value for money and conformity with guidance and regulations in relation to proposals for a ferry service linking Campbeltown to Ballycastle and whether there has been any significant change in circumstances.

Stewart Stevenson: This Executive is aware of the value for money issues regarding previous tender exercises for the Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry service. I understand that Accountable Officer Directions were issued by previous Ministers to Executive officials in 2002 and 2005 because of officials’ concerns over value for money issues emerging from the economic appraisals undertaken at that time. In re-examining the case for reinstating the service a future appraisal will include value for money issues. Until such time as that appraisal has been completed it would be premature to speculate on whether there has been any change in circumstances.

Finance

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its review of major capital projects conducted in June (a) included any new assessment of current cost estimates and (b) identified risks for each project.

Stewart Stevenson: The review considered the latest information available on the programme, costs and risks of each of the major capital projects.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review MEL (1996) 22, guidance on NHS responsibility for continuing health care, and, if so, when.

Shona Robison: A review of MEL (1996) 22 is currently being carried out and revised guidance on NHS Continuing Healthcare will be issued early in 2008.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Stage 1 appeals there have been following a discharge decision and how many were successful in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Stage 2 appeals there have been following a discharge decision and how many were successful in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally.

Health

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have requested officials to prepare estimates of the costs of introducing an individual 18-week patient guarantee.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have requested independent expert studies to investigate the practicalities and costs of introducing an individual 18-week patient guarantee.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its estimates of the costs of introducing an individual 18-week patient guarantee, whether prepared by officials or independent experts, will be made publicly available and, if so, when they are likely to be published.

Shona Robison: On 28 June 2007, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing announced our intention to develop and publish by the end of this year a refreshed action plan to implement the principles for health care policy and delivery that were outlined in the Kerr report. Our action plan will include a new and ambitious target for NHS waiting times: a new whole journey waiting time target of 18 weeks from general practitioner referral to treatment. The action plan will set out how we intend to meet the target by December 2011.

  Officials in my department are undertaking work on estimates of the costs of introducing the whole journey 18-weeks target. This work is on-going. It is not planned to commission independent expert studies to investigate the practicalities and costs of introducing the target.

  Details of our spending plans for the Health Service in Scotland will be set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review, which is expected to be announced in the autumn.

Health

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether (a) ministers, (b) NHS boards or (c) hospitals are expected to be the guarantors in the event of the introduction of an individual 18-week patient guarantee.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive where, in the event of the introduction of an 18-week patient guarantee, legal liability in the event of any breach would reside.

Shona Robison: The government’s new action plan for 2008-09 and beyond will include a new whole journey waiting times target of 18 weeks.

  We will also begin consultation on a Patients’ Rights Bill and on our proposals for legally binding waiting times guarantees during the next year.

Justice

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered introducing an arbitration bill to handle small claims out of court.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government intends to introduce an Arbitration Bill at the first appropriate legislative opportunity in order to reform and modernise the law on arbitration as part of its commitment to work with Scotland’s legal community to take forward plans to create a Scottish International Arbitration Centre.

  Arbitration may not, however, be the most appropriate method of dispute resolution for small claims. The essence of arbitration is that it is a private procedure whereby parties agree to submit a dispute between them to a third-party, who often has special expertise or knowledge, and who will act as a private tribunal to produce a final and binding determination of the dispute. The parties pay for the services of the arbitrator (unlike a public court where the judge is provided by the state). The cost of arbitration can be high and this means that it is most commonly used by commercial concerns who value the speed, flexibility and confidentiality it offers.

  The disproportionate cost of litigation, particularly in cases of lower financial value, is one of the issues which Lord Gill’s review of the civil courts will examine. We also expect that the small claims procedure in the sheriff court and the role of mediation and other methods of dispute resolution in relation to court processes will come under his scrutiny.

  We hope that when legislation to reform the law on arbitration in Scotland has been enacted, this may encourage industries and professions to set up their own low cost arbitration schemes to resolve disputes. Such schemes have already been set up by the Association of British Travel Agents, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland.

Licensing of Taxis

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what statutory controls are in place to regulate the taxi licensing regime, in particular to ensure that vehicles operating as taxis fulfil minimum safety standards.

Stewart Stevenson: Licensing authorities have powers to regulate the taxi licensing regime under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

  These powers provide that an authority may not grant or renew a taxi licence unless they are satisfied that the vehicle is suitable in type, size and design for use as a taxi and that it is safe for that use. There are powers also to require taxi licence holders to present their vehicle for periodic inspection and testing to ensure their continuing fitness for the carriage of passengers.

Local Government Finance

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what control it has over expenditure by local authorities of money allocated through the core local government finance settlement.

John Swinney: It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate its total resources including money allocated through the core local government finance settlement. Other than the specific grants contained within the settlement, which represent less than 10 per cent of the total, and having fulfilled their statutory obligations local authorities are free to allocate the money on the basis of local needs and priorities.

Ministerial Correspondence

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister will reply to my letter of 29 June 2007 regarding the appointment, remit, period of office and accountability of the Council of Economic Advisers.

John Swinney: The First Minister wrote on 15 August 2007.

NHS Hospitals

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Dr Andrew Walker, chair of the independent panel, will be asked to consider the original as well as the revised proposals and carry out a full option appraisal as part of his review of proposals regarding accident and emergency services in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Dr Andrew Walker, chair of the independent panel, has discretion to undertake a full option appraisal as part of his independent scrutiny of proposals for service change to accident and emergency services in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.

Shona Robison: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has asked NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Lanarkshire to provide revised proposals that will see accident and emergency services continue at their main hospital sites. As such, the proposals which the boards submit for independent scrutiny will not include the original proposals.

  It will be for each of the NHS boards to identify a preferred service option through effective option appraisal, as informed by the report of the Independent Scrutiny Panel. The panel will, however, comment on the proposed approach to option appraisal which will be submitted by the boards along with their revised options and supporting evidence.

NHS Hospitals

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has been given of the additional cost of retaining accident and emergency services at Ayr Hospital above the estimated cost of implementing the original proposal.

Shona Robison: This is a matter for NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

NHS Staff

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS workers were waiting for their new salary bandings to be applied under Agenda for Change, broken down by health profession and NHS board in each year since 2004 and how many are currently waiting.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Nicola Sturgeon: Implementation of Agenda for Change began in December 2004, with the assimilation of staff to the new pay bands commencing in February 2006.

  Information on progress with assimilation was collected from health boards from March 2006 onwards. The following table shows the rate of progress in March and December 2006 and May 2007, broken down by health board. Data on the breakdown by health profession is not held centrally.

  Progress with Assimilation to the Agenda for Change pay bands by Health Board

  

Heath Board
March 2006(% of Total Workforce)
December 2006(% of Total Workforce)
May 2007(% of Total Workforce)


Argyll and Clyde* 
1,574 (15%)
5,384 (51%)
 


Ayrshire and Arran
142 (2%)
5,547 (51%)
8,050 (89%)


Borders
84 (2%)
2,639 (65%)
2,879 (97%)


Dumfries and Galloway
938 (21%)
3,646 (82%)
4,430 (100%)


Fife
1,013 (12%)
7,956 (91%)
8,790 (100%)


Forth Valley
1,045 (15%)
3,874 (57%)
5,075 (87%)


Greater Glasgow and Clyde** 
1,931 (7%)
15,874 (55%)
28,510 (85%)


Golden Jubilee National Hospital 
0
517 (76%)
683 (100%)


Grampian
304 (2%)
7,111 (49%)
11,863 (97%)


Highland
880 (14%)
3,579 (57%)
6,256 (100%)


Lanarkshire
1,968 (20%)
8,688 (87%)
9,966 (100%)


Lothian
443 (2%)
12,475 (62%)
19,613 (97%)


Orkney
15 (3%)
423 (74%)
568 (100%)


Scottish Ambulance Service
0
3,901 (99%)
3,930 (100%)


State Hospital 
0
347 (54%)
416 (78%)


Shetland
0
356 (39%)
488 (97%)


Tayside
0
7,140 (54%)
8,863 (81%)


Western Isles
305 (21%)
714 (59%)
872 (90%)


Special Health Boards*** 
480 (9%)
2,102 (40%)
3,129 (60%)


Scotland 
11,122 (8%)
92,273 (70%)
124,381 (94%)



  Notes:

  *Argyll and Clyde Health Board was dissolved in 1 April 2006

  **Became Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board on the dissolving of Argyll and Clyde Health Board.

  ***The record for Special Health Boards covers NHS Education Scotland, NHS 24, NHS Health Scotland, National Services Scotland and Quality Improvement Scotland.

NHS Staff

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider devolving more specialist medical training posts from Edinburgh to Ayrshire and Arran NHS board and, if so, in what specialisms.

Shona Robison: NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is responsible for determining the specific allocation of specialist medical training posts across Scotland. The Scottish Government is responsible for determining the overall number of training posts in Scotland informed by workforce planning at local and national level.

NHS Staff

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that vacant consultant posts in NHS Ayrshire and Arran are filled.

Shona Robison: NHS Ayrshire and Arran have recently appointed 11 consultants as a result of recent local recruitment campaigns and their consultant vacancy rate is falling. The Scottish Government continues to work with all health boards to reduce consultant vacancy levels and thereby increase the number of consultants in post. There are a number of initiatives currently in place to assist boards in this process, including:

  matching the career aspirations of doctors about to complete their training with current and expected consultant vacancies thereby improving the flow of information between doctors in training and health boards;

  providing funding, through an advance appointments scheme, to allow newly qualified consultants to take up post in tandem with the current consultant for a period of up to six months thereby easing the transition from doctor in training to consultant, and

  improving the advertising arrangements for consultant vacancies.

  Health boards now produce workforce plans which include demand predictions for all staff groups. These plans are used to help match workforce supply and demand at both a national and local level.

NHS Waiting Times

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the costs of preparing for and implementing the waiting list targets announced in 2004 which are due to take full effect in December 2007.

Shona Robison: NHSScotland is making excellent progress towards delivery of the waiting times targets announced in 2004 and scheduled to come into effect at the end of 2007. This is bringing benefits to patients across Scotland. However, we believe that performance improvement needs to go further to meet the expectations of patients and the public in Scotland. That is why we have announced our intention to introduce a target of a maximum 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment for delivery by the end of 2011.

  To achieve the performance improvements made to date, the NHS has invested in additional capacity, service redesign, extended staff roles, more productive equipment and more modern facilities and in training clinical staff. Expenditure by the NHS in Scotland in 2006-07 was £10.1 billion, compared with £8.86 billion in 2004-05. It is not possible to separate out the different components of this expenditure in relation to each of the waiting times targets or to other elements of service change and improvement implemented over the last three years. Audit Scotland’s report Tackling waiting times in the NHS in Scotland, published in February 2006, concluded that "all elective care makes a contribution to tackling waiting times and spending elsewhere in the health system can also affect waiting times indirectly. It is not possible to identify this spending separately."

Planning

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to ensure that future applications for house building in known flood-risk areas are assessed more stringently.

Stewart Stevenson: Planning authorities have powers provided under the Town and Country Planning legislation to take flood risk into account in determining planning applications and to refuse them if appropriate. If a proposal is likely to increase the number of buildings at risk of flooding, the legislation requires the authority to consult Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) who have a statutory duty to provide advice. If a planning authority wishes to approve an application contrary to SEPA’s advice it has to be notified to the Scottish ministers who may decide to call it in for their own decision.

  The national policy regarding development at risk of flooding is contained in Scottish Planning Policy (SPP)7 - Planning and Flooding. Its central purpose is to prevent further development which would have a significant probability of being affected by flooding. In particular it says that built development should not take place on functional flood plains and identifies areas with an annual probability of flooding greater than 0.5% (1:200) as being "medium to high risk" where undeveloped or sparsely developed areas are generally not suitable for additional development. There are no plans to change these provisions.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why no separate planning permission was required for the new linkspan at Dunoon.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why Argyll and Bute Council was able to grant permission for the new linkspan at Dunoon as a variation to planning permission for the breakwater without the matter having to be referred to the Scottish ministers.

Stewart Stevenson: Argyll and Bute Council was responsible for the new breakwater and linkspan at Dunoon. Planning permission for the original breakwater scheme was granted through due process in consultation with Scottish ministers. The linkspan was a late addition to the breakwater scheme. It is my understanding that the council took the view that the new linkspan was "permitted development". Consequently, the council concluded that the addition of the new linkspan to the original breakwater scheme required neither separate planning permission nor to be referred to Scottish ministers.

Prison Service

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the total number of prison inmates is believed to have either drug or alcohol addiction problems.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Reception figures (2004) show that two out of three prisoners (66%) tested positive for all substances of misuse on admission to prison.

  Self-reported figures from the SPS Prisoner Survey (2006) show that 23% of prisoners were worried that alcohol would be a problem on release from prison, with 29% of prisoners reporting using illegal drugs in the month immediately prior to survey completion.

Public Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with operators proposing a water-based commuter service across the Forth between Edinburgh and Fife.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive agreed to support a hovercraft trial via SESTRAN. The trial was a public/private partnership involving a range of key interests - councils, SESTRAN and the operator Stagecoach. Results from the hovercraft trial will feed into the report commissioned by SESTRAN on cross-Forth ferry commuting possibilities. This report has not yet been finalised.

Public Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what subsidy is available for the operation of a water-based commuter service across the Forth between Edinburgh and Fife.

Stewart Stevenson: We must wait to see the outcome and recommendations of the study commissioned by SESTRAN on all the crossing options before considering funding options for any service to be provided. Full consideration will be given to funding arrangements for any service at that time.

Public Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was allocated by the South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SESTRANS) for the Kirkcaldy to Portobello hovercraft trial and how SESTRANS will determine whether the trial was successful.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive agreed to support the hovercraft trial up to a maximum of £92,000 via SESTRAN. The results of the trial will be analysed in detail by SESTRAN and fed into the study commissioned by them on possible Forth crossings.

Public Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been advised of the findings of feasibility work commissioned by Fife Council in respect of the Forth hovercraft trial which stated that "no business case would stack up".

Stewart Stevenson: The report commissioned by SESTRAN on cross Forth options has not yet been finalised.

Public Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to routes other than Kirkcaldy to Portobello for a Forth hovercraft.

Stewart Stevenson: The report commissioned by SESTRAN will give consideration of hovercraft routes from Kirkcaldy to Leith, and Burntisland to Granton. The report is not yet finalised.

Public Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether potential engineering risks associated with the (a) Edinburgh Trams project, (b) Edinburgh Airport Rail Link and (c) Waverley rail line have been fully scoped and, if so, what conclusions have been arrived at.

Stewart Stevenson: Engineering risks for these projects have been assessed as part of the normal risk assessment processes of Transport Scotland. The conclusions were reflected in the minister’s transport statement of 27 June 2007.

Rail Network

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to invest in the rail line between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Shotts.

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide a high speed service on the Glasgow-Shotts-Edinburgh rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is leading work to provide firm proposals for the most cost-effective ways to improve reliability, bring down journey times and provide capacity for the expected continuing growth in rail passenger numbers between Edinburgh and Glasgow. This will include services on the Glasgow-Shotts-Edinburgh line. The results of this will be reported in September and will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether plans are in place to develop the Allandale railway station proposed as Castlecary railway station in Central Scotland Transport Corridor Studies, published in January 2003.

Stewart Stevenson: There are no plans to develop the Allandale rail station.

  The STAG appraisal, submitted to Transport Scotland by consultants acting on behalf of Falkirk Council early in 2006, concluded that the development of an alternative park and ride facility at Bannockburn would provide better value for money. It was agreed in October 2006 that Bannockburn should be taken forward to a Design and Appraisal stage and that no further work should be undertaken on Allandale.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what benchmark was used in terms of costs per kilometre for estimating the construction costs of the Waverley railway line and how this figure compares with the benchmark figures used by the Strategic Rail Authority in estimating construction costs for new lines elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Stewart Stevenson: The promoter has reported to the Scottish Executive that they did not use a benchmark cost/kilometre to calculate the capital costs due to the number of variables along the route. Instead, the promoter used a "bottom-up" approach which was based on calculating actual quantities for the construction components based on the preliminary design and applying the most applicable industry rates to these components. This methodology was widely accepted to be a more robust approach to the benchmark cost/kilometre figures used by the Strategic Rail Authority in estimating construction costs for new lines else where in the United Kingdom where there is insufficient information.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made for home loss payments to those affected by the construction of the Waverley railway line; how this has been calculated, and whether any such provision is included in the capped amount committed by the previous administration for the line.

Stewart Stevenson: Home loss payments will be made to those eligible under the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973. Provision has been made for this by the Promoter in cost estimates for land purchase, based on independent advice from the District Valuer. This provision is currently included in the capped amount committed by the previous administration for the line.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether where will be a gateway review before the final business case is put forward for the Waverley railway line project and, if so, when such a review will be conducted.

Stewart Stevenson: There will be a gateway review held before the final business case is put forward for the Waverley railway line project. Until the due diligence exercise is completed, it is not prudent to comment when the next review will be held.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had prior to 27 June 2007 with industry stakeholders, such as train operating companies, trades unions and Network Rail, concerning the costs involved in the electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland commissioned Network Rail to undertake a study into the potential electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow rail route. This GRIP Stage 1 study included a summary of the key issues by engineering discipline, a high level programme and estimates of likely costs to +/- 50% quality. It was taken forward by Network Rail in consultation with Transport Scotland and was published in June 2007. Electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow line is now being considered as part of the wider work of improving reliability, reducing journey times and providing capacity for the expected continuing growth in rail passenger numbers on this route. First ScotRail and Network Rail are participating in this work. The results of this will be reported in September and will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding package has been considered for the electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is leading work to provide firm proposals for the most cost-effective ways to improve reliability, bring down journey times and provide capacity for the expected continuing growth in rail passenger numbers between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Electrification is one possible option for achieving this and the costs and funding for such a project will be considered in the wider context of the above service improvements. The results of this will be reported in September and will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much journey times will be improved through the electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is leading work to provide firm proposals for the most cost-effective ways to improve reliability, bring down journey times and provide capacity for the expected continuing growth in rail passenger numbers between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Electrification is one possible option for achieving this and the improvements to journey times through this are currently being assessed. The results of this work will be reported in September and will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what economic benefits there will be from the electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is leading work to provide firm proposals for the most cost-effective ways to improve reliability, bring down journey times and provide capacity for the expected continuing growth in rail passenger numbers between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Electrification is one possible option for achieving this and the costs, risks and economic benefits of such a project will be considered in the wider context of the above service improvements. The results of this will be reported in September and will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow rail line will enable passengers to travel in and out of stations in (a) Edinburgh without changing at Haymarket or Waverley and (b) Glasgow without changing at Glasgow Queen Street or Central.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is leading work to provide firm proposals for the most cost-effective ways to improve reliability, bring down journey times and provide capacity for the expected continuing growth in rail passenger numbers between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Electrification is one possible option for achieving this and its effects on service integration at stations in Edinburgh and Glasgow will be considered in the wider context of the above service improvements. The results of this will be reported in September and will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what carbon emissions resulted from the operation of rail services on the Glasgow to Edinburgh rail line in the last year for which figures are available.

Stewart Stevenson: Carbon emissions resulting from the operation of rail services are not monitored by the Scottish Executive on a route by route basis. The Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Borders Council or the Executive would be expected to meet the cost of any operational deficit linked to the Waverley railway line.

Stewart Stevenson: It is expected that any operational deficit would require to be funded in a comparable manner to the rest of the ScotRail network. The impact of this requirement forms part of the current due-diligence assessment by Transport Scotland of the Borders railway project.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether First ScotRail has indicated a willingness to run trains on the Waverley railway line and whether it is willing to do so without any operational subsidy.

Stewart Stevenson: First ScotRail has indicated an interest in the operation of the Waverley railway line, and would expect to do so on a basis consistent with the rest of the ScotRail network.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or Transport Scotland has instructed TIE Limited that work should cease on the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has instructed TIE Limited that no more money should be spent on the EARL project than is strictly unavoidable during the current review of its governance and future.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is taking forward the resolution of the Parliament on 27 June 2007 in relation to the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is reviewing project governance issues identified in the Audit Scotland Edinburgh Transport Projects Review  Report on the EARL project, as well as investigating more cost effective investments than the EARL scheme. Results will be reported to Parliament in the autumn.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would be of adding an extra lane for overtaking on the A9.

Stewart Stevenson: The cost of adding an extra lane for overtaking on the A9 has not been estimated.

Rail Network

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the reopening of a train station at Symington in Clydesdale.

Stewart Stevenson: In March 2005, the final report of the study into the feasibility of introducing a local passenger rail service on the West Coast Main Line and reopening railway stations at Symington, Beatock and Abington was submitted to the Scottish Executive. The report did not make a sound case for supporting the project.

  To date, we have not received the fully completed assessment into the business case for reopening Symington station and we are therefore not in a position to comment at this time. However, in general, new stations will be considered where the surrounding population, workplace or visitor need is sufficient to generate a high level of demand, and would be expected to be serviced by feeder rather than inter-urban services.

Rail Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what annual carbon emissions it estimates would result from the operation of rail services on the Glasgow to Edinburgh rail line following electrification.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is leading work to provide firm proposals for the most cost-effective ways to improve reliability, bring down journey times and provide capacity for the expected continuing growth in rail passenger numbers between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Electrification is one possible option for achieving this and the environmental impacts of this will be assessed as part of this work. The results of this will be reported in September and will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Road Safety

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on ensuring road safety for children.

Stewart Stevenson: Improving road safety for children and reducing the number of children killed or injured on Scotland’s roads is a key priority for the Scottish Government.

  Road Safety Scotland is implementing a road safety education strategy, which aims to ensure that all children receive a minimum of road safety education at every stage of their school career, linked to national education guidelines. Road Safety Scotland has developed road safety education resources for all age groups from pre-school to upper secondary. Road Safety Scotland is working in partnership with the key road safety organisations to coordinate efforts in this area.

Road Safety

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to education authorities to ensure that children are made aware of high speed rapid response traffic when receiving road safety lessons.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive does not issue specific guidance on this to education authorities. However, "Crash Magnets", a resource for upper secondary pupils, and a new resource for children with additional support needs, being developed by Road Safety Scotland, highlight the need to be alert to the presence and urgency of Fire and Rescue Service vehicles.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how estimated construction costs per kilometre for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route compare with the benchmark costs per kilometre used by the Highways Agency in England and Wales in estimating construction costs for proposed new roads.

Stewart Stevenson: The estimate was not made on a cost per kilometre basis.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed routes for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route utilising the Maryculter Bridge conform to the technical requirements laid out in the National Transport Strategy and associated guidance.

Stewart Stevenson: The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will cross the River Dee by way of a new bridge and will not utilise the existing B979 Maryculter Bridge. The scheme is being designed in accordance with standards set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges .

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether changing the route for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route from the Murtle to the Miltimber option increased the projected cost of the scheme and, if so, by how much.

Stewart Stevenson: The Murtle route was estimated (in 2005 and based upon an opening year of 2010) to cost between £210 million and £280 million. The Milltimber Brae and Fastlink has an estimated cost of between £295 million and £395 million.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the greater length of the Miltimber option compared with the Murtle option will have on total vehicle emissions, both in respect of air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, resulting from the proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: A comparison between the Murtle Route and the Milltimber Brae and Fastlink options was carried out prior to the decision in December 2005. This can be downloaded from the project website www.awpr.co.uk . The analysis predicted that the in the case of the most commonly measured indicators of air quality (Carbon Monoxide (CO), Hydrocarbons, Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Particulates (PM10) and Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 )) the Milltimber Brae and Fastlink produced a lower overall percentage increase in emissions than the Murtle Route.

  A more comprehensive analysis of the air quality impacts of the Milltimber Brae and Fastlink route for the AWPR is available in the Environmental Statement published in December 2006 and which can be downloaded from the project website www.awpr.co.uk.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1811 by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007, when the cost estimate from the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route was first made.

Stewart Stevenson: The £295 million to £395 million cost estimate for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route was first made prior to the announcement of the preferred route choice in December 2005.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1811 by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007, whether its cost estimate for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is based on the current preferred option including the Stonehaven spur and how this estimate was reached.

Stewart Stevenson: The current cost estimate, in the range £295 million to £395 million, is based on the Milltimber Brae option and includes costs for the Stonehaven Fastlink. The cost estimate was prepared by the project team in discussion with the Managing Agent and Consulting Engineers using data benchmarked against similar Scottish schemes.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1811 by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007, whether the decision to adopt the Miltimber option for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route allows any narrowing of the range of projected costs.

Stewart Stevenson: No. The current cost estimate, in the range £295 million to £395 million, is based upon the Milltimber Brae Option including costs for the Stonehaven Fastlink. The cost range gives a truer picture of the inherent risks and uncertainties associated with planning and constructing such a major piece of infrastructure. The final cost will not be known until tenders have been returned and the contract completed.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial impact of the most recent delay to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project will be on the projected costs of the scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: The review of transport projects conducted in the early weeks of this government revealed that the previously announced completion date would not be achieved. The impact of the delay to the completion date may result in increased costs due to construction and tender price inflation. The final costs will not be known until tenders have been returned and the contract completed. Project out-turn costs are currently estimated to lie between £295 million and £395 million.

Roads

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when work will begin on the new bridge across the M8 at Harthill Service Station.

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the new bridge across the M8 at Harthill Service Station to be completed.

Stewart Stevenson: Competitive tenders were received from three contractors on 10 August 2007. These are now being assessed and, if found to be satisfactory, work is expected to start this autumn and be completed in 12 months.

Roads

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1348 by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007, what the impact was on projected costs of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1811 on 24 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering the remit of a public inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project and, if so, whether it will ensure that climate change implications and effects on congestion levels are included as part of the inquiry.

Stewart Stevenson: The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is being promoted under the terms of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. A Public Local Inquiry is required to be held in certain circumstances prescribed in the act to hear evidence in relation to objections lodged against the draft orders. It is too early to say what evidence would be heard at any inquiry.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any European regulations or legislation have affected the timescale for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project and, if so, whether it will provide details of such regulations or legislation.

Stewart Stevenson: Compliance with European regulations and legislation have been factored into the timetable for delivering the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) homes and (b) acres of land have been compulsorily purchased in preparation for the building of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: No homes or land have at this stage been compulsorily acquired for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a gateway review before the final business case is put forward for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and, if so, when such a review will be conducted.

Stewart Stevenson: Gateway reviews will be scheduled at the appropriate points in the project development.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the green belt is protected in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire following the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any relaxation on building in the green belt will be permitted in relation to sites adjacent to or in the vicinity of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments have been given by ministers to community organisations concerned about the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers have corresponded with community organisations but no commitments were given.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of congestion on roads in the city of Aberdeen will be alleviated by the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: Full details are available in the Environmental Statement which can be downloaded from the project website www.awpr.co.uk .

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the economic benefits arising from the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route derive from the (a) building of private houses and (b) provision of out-of-town retail facilities.

Stewart Stevenson: (a) None. (b) None.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much land it needs to acquire to build the M74 extension; how many significant landholdings are involved, and who the owners are.

Stewart Stevenson: The land required for the M74 Completion was identified on the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) which was made on 24 March 2005.

  A copy of the CPO can be viewed on the M74 Completion Website www.m74completion.com.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to linking the A9 and the A82.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-233 on 7 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the A9; what costs are envisaged; what the timescale is, and what benefits there will be from any upgrade.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any additional overtaking lanes are planned for the A9 in advance of any announcement in summer 2008 about the next stage of strategic transport developments.

Stewart Stevenson: Details and timescales for our major and important planned road projects, including those on the A9, can be found on the Transport Scotland website at: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/index.aspx?pageID=1 .

  Future investment on the trunk road network, including the A9, will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which is due to report in summer 2008. Options emerging from the STPR will be assessed against the government’s strategic objectives and will be formally appraised in accordance with the STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) process.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the A82; what costs are envisaged, and what benefits there will be from any upgrade.

Stewart Stevenson: Details and timescales for our major and important planned road projects, including those on the A82, can be found on the Transport Scotland website at: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/index.aspx?pageID=1 .

  Future investment on the trunk road network, including the A82, will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which is due to report in summer 2008. Options emerging from the STPR will be assessed against the government’s strategic objectives and will be formally appraised in accordance with the STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) process.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to complete the M8; what costs are envisaged; what the timescale is, and what benefits there will be from any upgrade.

Stewart Stevenson: Full details on the plans and benefits for the M8 completion can be found on the project website at www.m8completion.co.uk . Details of costs and timescales can be found on the Transport Scotland website at www.transportscotland.gov.uk/projects .

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tenders were received for the 2 km replacement work on the A9 at Helmsdale.

Stewart Stevenson: Five.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence was presented to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change to support his statement that works on the A9 that "will bring economic benefits to both the north of Scotland and the northern Isles".

Stewart Stevenson: The economic appraisal for the works referred to, showed a positive benefit to cost ratio demonstrating the value of the scheme to the local and wider community.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the 20 poorest maintained (a) A roads, (b) B roads and (c) local roads are according to roads statistics.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive does not hold centrally the information in the form requested. However, Scottish Transport Statistics , published in 2006, shows in table 5.6 the condition of local authority roads by council area using an amber/red designation. This indicates whether further investigation should be undertaken to establish if treatment is required or that repairs are required to prolong the life of the road structure.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many traffic incidents causing congestion have been recorded on the A82 between the Dumbuck junction and the Erskine Bridge in each of the last three years.

Stewart Stevenson: Not all traffic incidents are reported to the trunk road operating companies and not all recorded incidents cause congestion. The number of traffic incidents (including accidents, potholes, signal faults, debris, spillages, flooding, damaged roadside furniture and so on) reported to Amey, the south-west trunk road operating company for the A82 trunk road between Dumbuck and the Erskine Bridge in the last three financial years, is as follows:

  2004-05 - 122

  2005-06 - 181

  2006-07 - 195

  April 2007 to present - 47.

  These figures may include instances of multiple reports of the same incident.

  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for further information if required.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse will be upgraded to dual three-lane equivalent motorway standard and operational.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-2791 on 23 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the A80 between Stepps and Haggs will be upgraded to dual two-lane equivalent motorway standard and operational.

Stewart Stevenson: We expect the A80 Stepps to Haggs upgrade to be complete in 2011.

  Details on timescales can be found on the Transport Scotland website: www.transportscotland.go.uk/projects.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would be of adding an extra lane for overtaking on the A82.

Stewart Stevenson: The cost of adding an extra lane for overtaking on the A82 has not been estimated.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1819 by Stewart Stevenson on 17 July 2007, whether ministers requested that the Forth Estuary Transport Authority notify employees involved in toll collection prior to the announcement of the abolition of tolling and when employees were informed of ministers’ proposals.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers did not request that the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) notify its employees prior to the announcement to abolish tolls. When employees were informed is a matter for FETA.

  The proposals to abolish the tolls were well publicised and contained in this Government’s pre-election document A New Approach: Our First Steps.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1864 by Stewart Stevenson on 17 July 2007, when it will be in a position to confirm that it is satisfied with the (a) accuracy of the cost and (b) assessment of risk involved in dualling the A9.

Stewart Stevenson: As I stated in my answer to question S3W-1864 on 17 July 2007, further scoping work is underway and this will feed into the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR). The STPR will assess potential future investment options against the Government’s strategic objectives and will be formally appraised in accordance with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance process. The STPR is due to report in summer 2008.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimate has been made of the extent to which construction of the North Clyde Development Route will support the achievement of its regeneration, as well as transport, objectives in the west of Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: The construction of the North Clyde Development Route is a matter for West Dunbartonshire Council and Glasgow City Council as the relevant local roads authorities. Accordingly, the Executive has not made a specific estimate of the contribution which the route will make towards its regeneration or transport objectives for the west of Scotland.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimates are of the annual number of vehicles using each trunk road in (a) south-west and (b) north-west Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: The measure of traffic flow on trunk roads is the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF). The minimum and maximum AADF for each trunk road in the south-west and north-west trunk road operating company areas is as follows:

  

 
 
Annual Average Daily Flow Range


Route
Unit
Min
Max


A80
SW
9,921
29,534


A9
NW
1,678
36,425


A75
SW
4,016
21,828


A76
SW
2,932
11,471


A77
SW
2,976
33,093


A78
SW
6,088
30,107


A82
NW
2,184
29,999


A83
NW
2,118
6,630


A84
NW
3,465
7,041


A85
NW
2,185
16,387


A86
NW
1,066
1,256


A87
NW
1,187
4,976


A99
NW
1,943
1,943


A701
SW
4,834
50,168


A725
SW
25,939
56,998


A726
SW
23,423
23,423


A737
SW
10,108
59,571


A738
SW
18,682
18,682


A751
SW
1,443
1,443


A828
NW
1,903
4,847


A830
NW
973
8,166


A835
NW
1,775
9,611


A887
NW
963
963


A889
NW
679
679


A898
SW
27,261
27,261


M8
SW
36,892
113,666


M73
SW
35,945
38,706


M74
SW
6,602
83,359


M77
SW
33,331
59,871


M80
SW
44,866
56,424



  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this matter and can be contacted for further information if required.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were applied when the decision was made that the A7 from near Edinburgh to near Galashiels and the A91 from the M90 to St Andrews be transferred to local authority control in April 1996.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were applied when the decision was made that the A720 Edinburgh City bypass east of the M8 extension and the A95 from Aviemore to Keith become part of the trunk road network in April 1996.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were applied when the decision was made that the A82 between the Glasgow City Council area boundary and the Erskine Bridge be transferred to local authority control in April 1996.

Stewart Stevenson: The strategic network was last reviewed overall in the public consultation Shaping the Trunk Road Network in 1994-95 (the previous review was 1946). This was linked to the reorganisation of local government at the time. Following this, a number of trunking and detrunking Orders were made, making changes to the local and trunk network.

  The criteria applied are set out in the 1995 Scottish Office document Local Government Reform Shaping the Trunk Road Network The Government’s Response. A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 9674).

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vehicles have used the A82 between the Glasgow City Council area boundary and the Erskine Bridge in each of the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive collects traffic data relating to the trunk road network for which it is responsible through its agency Transport Scotland. The Executive does not hold centrally any traffic flow information for the local road section of the A82 between Glasgow City Council area boundary and the Erskine Bridge as this is the responsibility of West Dunbartonshire Council.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering transferring any roads currently under local authority control to the trunk road network.

Stewart Stevenson: The strategic network was last reviewed overall in the public consultation Shaping the Trunk Road Network in 1994-95 (the previous review was 1946). This was linked to the reorganisation of local government at the time. Following this, a number of trunking and detrunking Orders were made, making changes to the local and trunk network.

  The Strategic Transport Projects Review will be examining the needs of our national strategic transport corridors. We have no plans to undertake a review of the trunk road network meantime.

Scottish Executive Ministers

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set targets for each department or ministerial portfolio to allow detailed scrutiny of its new efficiency programme that is expected to deliver at least 1.5% annual savings across the public sector.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish baseline information to show how each element of programmed efficiency saving within each ministerial portfolio is being delivered under its new efficiency programme that is expected to deliver at least 1.5% annual savings across the public sector.

John Swinney: The final report on the current efficiency programme will not be published until September 2008. The detail of the efficiency programme for 2008-11 will be announced following the conclusion of the 2007 Strategic Spending Review.

Sectarianism

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many football banning orders have been applied for by police since their introduction in 2006, also broken down by police force and giving numbers in respect of sectarian behaviour, racist behaviour and other forms of disorder.

Fergus Ewing: Since the legislation came into force on 1 September 2006, 245 cases requesting Football Banning Orders have been reported to procurators fiscal across the country. Of these, 48 were for sectarian offences and nine were for racial offences. The remaining cases were Breach of the Peace offences in respect of violent or disorderly conduct before, during or after football matches.

  The breakdown by police force is as follows:

  Number of Football Banning Orders Applied for Broken Down by Force

  

Force
September2006
October2006
November2006
December2006
January2007
February2007
March2007
April2007
May2007
June2007
July2007
Total


Strathclyde
5
3
15
6
0
4
9
1
1
0
3
47


British Transport Police
5
0
27
0
0
5
0
6
1
0
0
44


Lothian and Borders
1
50
6
3
4
0
15
15
0
0
0
94


Northern
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2


Fife
0
0
0
0
2
0
7
0
0
0
0
9


Central
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Grampian
0
0
0
0
0
18
3
4
5
0
4
34


Dumfries and Galloway
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Tayside
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
0
0
0
7
15


Totals:
11
53
48
10
6
36
34
26
7
0
14
245

Sectarianism

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what commitment it will make to continuing its support for grassroots anti-sectarianism education initiatives such as Nil by Mouth and Sense Over Sectarianism.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has supported a number of grassroots anti-sectarianism education initiatives over recent years, and recognises the important role played by such projects in tackling sectarianism in our communities.

Sectarianism

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to engage with Scotland’s faith communities to combat sectarianism.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government will continue to engage with Scotland’s faith communities in a variety of ways to ensure that their views are being listened to and understood. This will include direct Ministerial meetings, visits to places of worship and attendance at other key events. We will also continue to gather views through more formal forums such as the Faith Liaison Advisory Group. This engagement will be taken forward as part of the work of the One Scotland campaign.

Speed Limits

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1237 by Stewart Stevenson on 17 July 2007, whether it plans to ask chief constables to prioritise the enforcement of 20mph speed zones around schools.

Stewart Stevenson: There are no plans to do so, as the prioritisation of policing activities is entirely an operational matter for the relevant Chief Constable.

Taxation

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to seek greater tax-varying powers jointly with the Northern Ireland Assembly government.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that greater tax-varying powers is just one of the additional responsibilities for the Scottish Parliament that will help create a more successful economy and increase wealth for people in all parts of Scotland. Greater responsibility over taxation is one of the areas highlighted in the recent white paper on Independence, Choosing Scotland’s future , and will form part of the national conversation that is now underway. We will work in Scotland, with the UK government and with other devolved administrations as appropriate to deliver additional responsibilities for the benefit of the nation and to build Scottish success.

Teachers

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationary teachers have been unable to find a teaching job in Glasgow in the last five years.

Maureen Watt: Under the teacher induction scheme which has been running since August 2002, newly qualified, Scottish trained teachers are guaranteed an offer of a one-year teaching post for their probationary year. After the induction scheme, teachers may apply for teaching posts with any local authority and local authorities may employ their own teachers and/or those from other authorities.

  The information requested is not held centrally.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any major transport project with a benefit to cost ratio of 1.3 would meet the threshold requirements of (a) STAG appraisal or (b) the UK Government’s current green book methodology for project assessment and whether any scheme with such a ratio would be likely to secure approval and funding.

Stewart Stevenson: Within Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and the Green Book, there is no threshold requirement for Benefit Cost ratios (BCRs). STAG ensures that the contribution of transport improvements to the economy is fully assessed alongside contributions and impacts on the environment, accessibility and social inclusion, safety, and integration. Approval for funding is based on the assessment of the project across all five criteria.

Transport

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to restore the rail powers previously held by Strathclyde Passenger Transport and transferred to Transport Scotland to the new West of Scotland Regional Transport Partnership.

Stewart Stevenson: There are no plans to restore rail powers previously held by Strathclyde Passenger Transport and transferred to Transport Scotland to the new West of Scotland Regional Transport Partnership, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants were involved in the review of major transport projects conducted in June; how many hours of staff time were dedicated to it, and what the cost was of conducting the review.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of staff resources and costs of the review of major transport projects conducted in June 2007 was devoted to (a) the Edinburgh trams project, (b) the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project and (c) other capital projects.

Stewart Stevenson: The review of major transport projects was conducted by a small team of officials from Transport Scotland alongside their normal duties. Transport Scotland does not keep records of the time spent by officials on individual tasks.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering altering the STAG appraisal process, under which transport projects are considered on a scheme-by-scheme basis, to include comparison and prioritisation on the basis of overt macro-economic testing and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive has no plans to include a prioritisation mechanism within the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG). Transport Scotland is currently undertaking a refresh of STAG, with the new guidance document and supplementary technical database expected to be published later this year. The underlying principles of the refreshed guidance will remain consistent with those in the existing published guidance. The contribution and impacts of transport improvements will continue to be assessed against the economy, environment, accessibility and social inclusion, integration, and safety objectives. Approval for funding is based on the assessment of the project across all five criteria.

Water Services

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses it anticipates will be (a) better and (b) worse off following the phased introduction of general water metering for non-household premises from March 2008.

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which categories of business it expects to be (a) better and (b) worse off following the introduction of water metering for non-domestic premises.

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to ameliorate the impact of water metering on businesses that use a disproportionate and unavoidably high volume of water.

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has that water metering for non-household premises will lead to lower bills and improved infrastructure.

Stewart Stevenson: The introduction of water metering to non-household premises was driven by customers’ responses to the former Executives’ Paying for Water Services  consultation in 2004. It was clear at that time that customers considered metering as the fairest and most transparent method of paying for water services. The analysis of the consultation can be viewed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/02/20671/52284 .

  An effect of this change will be that customers who use less water should attract a smaller charge. Future charge levels for customers will however depend on a number of factors. These include specific consumption patterns, rateable values (used to calculate the surface water drainage element of the bill), the steps that customers take to manage their demand on the public system, the wholesale charging scheme that Scottish Water will apply to licensed retailers and how these retailers decide to charge customers with the introduction of retail competition from 2008.